The 9.6v suggests a NiMH/NiCd pack, which may well have 14awg on it (or less), in which case there's little point in using anything thicker than that for the main power stuff.

You could drop to 16awg for the drives, but as others have said a bit of overkill is no bad thing and you only need to buy the one thickness if you stay all 14awg. Later down the line you're more likely to use 14awg+ anyway so building up stock helps too.

This is assuming the popular flexible silicone type wire mentioned above, such as: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...icon_Wire.html